Lubricating mechanism for railway vehicle journals



April 20, 1954 G. F. coucH LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY AVEHICLE JOURNALS Filed Aug. 28, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 hls Attorney April 20, 1954 G;- coUcH 6 LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY vVEHIIICLE JOURNALS Filed Aug.' 28, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lgl` Inventor: Glenn E Couch his Atiorney April 20, 1954 G. F. coUcH 2,676,069

LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE JOURNALS Filed Aug. 28, 1950 l 5 Sheets'hSheet 3 In venor Glenn E .Couch hs Attorney FIG. 4

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE OURNALS Glenn F. Couch, Buialo, N. Y., assigner to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application August 28, 1950, Serial No. 181,844

11 Claims. l

This invention pertains to a lubricating mechanism for a, railway vehicle journal and more particularly to a fluid pressure type thereof.

An object of the invention is the provision, in a railway vehicle journal box, of an improved lubricating mechanism capable of feeding a lubricant under pressure to a bearing surface of an axle or journal.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a railway vehicle journal box, of an improved lubricating mechanism arranged to feed a lubricant under pressure to an isolated chamber which is in restricted communication with a bearing surface of a journal and shell,

An added object of the invention is the provision, in a railway vehicle journal box, of a pump means operable selectively by a journal and arranged, through suitable valve means, to build up a predetermined iiuid pressure in a reservoir or chamber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved pump means wherein after a predetermined fluid pressure is built up in a reservoir by an action of the pump means, the latter is rendered inoperative until the value of the uid pressure falls below a given point.

The above and numerous other objects of the invention will become apparent from the succeeding description of an exemplified form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional view of a journal box assembly embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken mainly along the lines 2 2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and with certain parts shown fragmentally in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical front view shown partially in elevation and partially in section and considered substantially on the lines 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, the left half of the gure being taken on the lines 4 4 of Figure 2, and the right half being taken on the lines 4 5' of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the lines 2 2 of Figure 1, locking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a horizontal detail section taken on the lines 6 6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

l Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse detail section taken on the lines 1 1 of Figure 2, looking in th direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, the numeral l is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner, a mechanism characteristic of the present invention and, more specically, a lubricating mechanism for a railway vehicle journal. The mechanism includes, as a part of the basic structure, a railway car axle 2 having a reduced end section or journal 3. This axle has iixed thereto a car wheel, not shown, which rides or rolls on a conventional rail of railway tracks (not shown). Also, generally considered, the journal is housed by or extends into a suitable journal box i and more particularly through a rear access opening 5 of the journal box. For the purpose of illustration only, the journal box is of the type which is free to execute a vertical movementv relative to a frame member (not shown) and toward this end the journal box has, at sides 6 thereof, guide lugs 'l adequately and suitably spaced transversely to neatly accommodate a portion of the :frame member therebetween. By reason of this structure the journal box and frame member are maintained in a denite relationship during a relative vertical movement therebetween. The journal box sides are joined together adjacent upper extremities thereof by a roof or top wali 8 which is provided with an upwardly opening cradle or bed 9 accommodating a removable bearing shoe l0 therein. This bearing shoe is rockably mounted on the roof within the bed and functions as an end bearing block for an equalisng bar (not shown), so that any loads imposed on the equalizing bar will be carried to the shoe and into the journal through the journal box roof and transmitted to the wheel and rail.

For the sake of convenience of assembly and disassembly the journal box-is preferably mafie of two parts with the roof and tophalves of 'the side walls forming an upper part or section oi the journal box and lower halves of the side walls and a bottom, transverse orr horizontal connecting wall Il forming a lower part yor section Yei the parts or halves of the journal box are suitably locked together by means of a series or plurality of tie bolts I2 which extend in a vertical direction through the side walls above and below the roof and bottom wall to maintain the halves in assembled relation to present, for all purposes and. intent, a unitary structure.

The portion or" the journal box which extends horizontally or laterally or outwardly of the vehicle from or beyond a free end of the journal is provided with an access opening I3 so that a service man or maintenance man may have .free access to the .interior .of the journal box. in order to prevent the ingress of foreign matter to the interior of the journal box through this access opening, the latter is covered completely by means of a lid I4 which is removably secured .to the journal box by means of holding bolts I suitably spaced about the lid. At times-the service man will be required to add alubricant :to

the journal box interior and thus, in order to avoid the necessity of removing the entire lid-.and holding bolts, there is provided in the lid as a part thereof, a swingable cap I6 overlying-conlpletely an aperture I'I A.in the lid. I'he cap is yieldably held in-closed position over the :aperture by means of avtorsion .spring ISandafpintle I 9. It will be veryapparent that if upon-,inspection it is noted ,that the lubricant 4or lubricating -medium (see Fig. 2) .has fallen below .a safe-level, additional lubricant may be'added to the Vjournal box through the. aperturev I 1.

Because of the particular composition 'of the journal box and axle it .is vbelievednecesszwy,to introduce, into the y.combination being "considered,.a ybearing mediumbetween these two components so as `to presenta structure capable .of adequately allording e. relatively lfree running movement of the axle. vMany diierent structures present themselves for the fulfillment of this function, however, it .is `preferred at .the .present Writing to employ a bearing member .26 comprising .acylindr-ical shellvorcollarl. This shell is preferably made as-a thin walled component and arranged to encircle completely the journal with suilicient clearance provided at the endsof the shell as at 22 to allow the journal to move axially thereof .relative to the 'related structure to accommodate service movements 4to whichit will be subjected. By referring particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted vthat the `shell has, at its lateral ends outstanding abutments 23 which overlap related parts of the journal box and `thus the journal boxand-shell are lockedtogether as a. unit to move thus during all r service actions. The shell-may -be made .upjof an outer jacket 24 Aof anydesirable. material such .as brass, and this jacketfmay-be lined asfat -25 v.with any of the well known so-called softer metals such as Babbitt-or white metal. lThe shell-is, because of its design, formed-as a multiepart unit in order to lassociate it in full bearing relation with the journal and, as such, it is formed with a top or upperpart, half or segment 2e vand-a bottom or lower part, vhalf or segmentl'.

Because of the .thinness of the shell, fully adequate for the complete performance of its office, .it is desirabletofform theinterior of the journal box in sucha manner so asto bear fully against the shell and thus, so .far as ythe-top half yis .concerned allow .the journal box yto transmit its vertical load completely to this tophalf of the shell. vSo far as thelower `half is concerned the journal boxshould maintainthis half of theshell also, in fullbearingrelation with the journal for side walls are also provided with concave surfaces 28 forming cylindrical continuations of the surface 28 to bear inwardly against the top and bottom shell halves. Growing out of the side Walls of the journal box is a lower sling or curved inner wall 30 which, in effect, bridges the side fwallsbelowfthe .horizontalplane,A-.A and is pspaced a .predetermineddistance @above bottom wall II. This curved inner wall functions to maintain the shell lower half in elevated position in full bearing relation with the journal.

'.Eonthe successful'operation of the mechanism it is necessary to introduce into the shell-journal ibex. relationshinfafeature which will prevent a .rotarymotionl .of the shell relative to the journal lbox. eAs willlbe noted by referring particularly to .Figure f1 of itherlrawings, the shell halves are counterparts of one another since the line of separation between the segments is coincident with the horizontal plane A-'-A and the meeting edges ofrthe segments .are-thickened or 1.-sho.uldered in local .or-spacedfareas I The relatedijournalhox side walls lare Sprovided with suitable .recesses iol unclercuts -32 .to `accomniodatetherspaced areas and thus, by this arrangement :the .shell :.:isf deflnitely locked against rotation relative .to the journalbox.

Like al1 j ournal-bearing relationships. that are subjected to conoentrfatedloads such las in-Ithewinstant case it is desirableeand believed necessary to arrange for 4the administration .of arsuitable lubricant 4to this relationship and toward Athis end, a lubricatmgfpressuresystem or forceteed has been introduced.into-,thezpresent structure. The Vbottom .connectingwall of the journal box together with the side-walls form-afwellrin which the-lubricant lis heldfandsforfthe purposetoffillus- 1 tration only the lubricant ,canbe 'raisedtoea limit indicated-by the diagrammatic.. line` B, sea-Figure 2. What maybe considered the lowervforsward extremity of the ,iourn-al box is.furtherlowered to form `a sump rSi? Y.insuring y-`avconeentrationor supply of lubricantsinsa-local area. '..Positionedlfin a planeor area below the 7axle and adjacentthe lower front extremity -of .the Vjournal box @a pump 34 having .a tbody orcasing of fst-abstantially hollow. form. The lowereextremity -of @the casing `ris completely. open .and provided witlrfa plurality .of .fcircumferentially spaced, downstanding feet or'legs -36 resting A.upon the journal `box bottom connecting :wall .-in the `.area` of :the sump so as .to allow ythe lubricant to find its way to the interior of the casing. rAssociated with Athe lowerY extremity .of the easing is vvaclosing v-plate or disk 3l fitting neatly ,inasufitable-counterbore to forma part of the zpumpbody. :In order to insure the retention 'of :the closing plate in fixed position it is. form-edwith ,a -downstanding pillar or stud 38 `restingllpon :the journal-:box bottom wall. Disposedaxially tof-ther disk iisY an annularv collar-,3e upstanding from the closing plate and forming -a part thereof.V A series of holes or inlet ports 413 areaarranged .inthe-closing plate in afsomewhat circularformaton-and positioned between a 1 periphery of the .disk s and the annular collarto'allow, upon occasionythe passage of lubricant from the sump to .the-interior of the pump body throughthe closing plate. These inlet ports le are at times or .normally masked or blocked ofi. bylalower'valve orwasher 4I which, in response to .fluid faction, is .arranged to be guided vertically by the .collar away-,from theplatel to .uncoverthe disk holes. The Y.upward vertical traveler .the lowervalve is limited by the presence of a suitable snapfringJlZ-sassociated with the collar and spaced a Vpredetermined distance above the lower valve.

Movably associated with the pump body is a piston or plunger 43 having a cylindrical shank 44, hollow in formation and closed at its uper end by an end wall 45. The plunger shank nts neatly through a suitable accommodating opening 46 in the pump body and is arranged for reciprocal movement in a vertical direction along a fixed path. What may be considered as the lower extremity of the piston shank is a radial circular flange 4'! having a sliding t with the inner surface of the pump body. This radial flange is provided with a series or plurality of holes or bypass port 48 arranged in a circular fashion and functioning as a means whereby, under certain conditions lubricant may pass through the'circular ange to an upper area 49 of the pump body. Extending about the piston shank in a guided manner is an upper valve plate 50 arranged to rest upon the piston radial fiange to function, at certain intervals, as a barrier to arrest the re-passage of lubricant through the by-pass ports. The top valve is also limited in its vertical travel relative to the piston and accordingly a snap ring 5l is interlocked with the piston shank a predetermined distance above the normal or illustrated position of the top valve. A movement of the top valve vertically against the snap ring 5I will allow the free passage of lubricant from a lower area of the pump to the upper area of the pump.

For the purpose of effecting a reciprocal movement of the piston the disk collar defines a spring seat 52 and the hollow piston presents a spring seat 53 vertically spaced and acted upon by a coil or helical spring 54. This coil spring is under an initial predetermined compression and under certain operating conditions of the pump maintains the piston in an extended or projected position. The coil spring at all times tends to urge the piston outwardly or upwardly of the pump body. So as 4to avoid building up uid pressure within the piston to negate or decrease the value of the coil spring, a bleed port 55 is present in the piston end wall 45.

The coil spring is employed to urge the piston in one direction only as noted from the above, and a drive plate or cam 55 is employed to urge the piston in an opposite direction or one inwardly of the pump body. This drive plate is removably mounted on a free end of the journal by means of rotatable elements or holding bolts 57. Also the drive plate is eccentrically mounted relative to the journal and because of this arrangement as the drive plate moves from what may be considered its low area 58 to what may be considered as its high area Silthe piston is moved from its elevated position illustrated by diagrammatic lines Sii in Figure 5 only to its withdrawn or retracted position as illustrated by full lines in Figures 2 to 5. The full reciprocal movement of the piston is represented by twice the distance marked X in Figure 3 or a distance properly considered the eccentric throw. It may be well to state here that the pump body is provided with a single exhaust port ti situated in the upper area of the body and directed inwardly of the journal box. Accordingly when the piston is extended and then driven by a rotary motion of the drive plate to a retracted position, lubricant trapped between the closing plate 37 and circular flange 41 will' elevate the top valve and permit the lubricant to-flow into the upper area of the pump body. As the driving action of the drive plate is lessened or removed the coil spring will again move the piston from retracted to extended position. This piston action will force the lubricant out of the upper area through the exhaust port and at the same time the lower valve will be elevated allowing the area between the closing plate and circular flange to become again charged by lubricant passing from the sump through the inlet ports. Thus, during each cycle of the eccentric, the body upper area will be fully charged with and partially exhausted of lubricant and the exhausted lubricant will pass or be expelled through the discharge port.

The journal box curved sling or inner wall is provided with a forwardly directed snoot or spout 62 downstanding in a direction toward the pump or sump and to this spout, the pump is removably secured by means of bolts 53. Substantially centrally disposed of the snoot is a feed line or conned duct 62 which is continued upwardly on opposite directions about the shell as an open recess 64 along the inner surface of the sling and side walls. This open circular recessr has its open side closed by the presence of the shell and thus functions as'a continuous conduit capable of conveying the lubricant under pressure from the pump.

At each side area forming the juncture of the journal box roof and side walls there are present a pair of transversely spaced chambers, reservoirs or compartments 65 and 65a which are supplied lubricant under pressure from the pump through the confined duct 62 and 64. In actual practice it is preferred to have the confined duct communicate with the reservoirs 65 and then have the related compartments and 55a joined by a connecting duct 66 so that a `charging of one compartment at one side ofthe journal box will result in charging both related compartments and the connecting duct.

Quadrantly spaced about the shell are located a plurality of ingress ports or passageways 61 and B8; the passageway 61 being present in the upper shell segment and in communication with the connecting ducts while the passageway 58 is present in the lower shell segment and blocked 01T from receiving any lubricant by the sling or inner wall. Since the carrying load is imposed only on the upper shell segment this application is concerned with the complete lubrication of this top segment; however; if preferred, it is obvious that proper conduits can be provided to supply a lubricant directly to the lower shell segment without depending upon the journal carrying the lubricant to this lower segment. Since the shell segments are counterparts of one another, the segments can be rotated until the lower segment becomes the upper segment and, at which time, the ingress ports 68 would be in direct communication with the connecting duct. In any event both segments will be properly lubricated even with the force feed being applied directly to the top segmentv only. The top segment, in alignment with the ingress ports 6i,- is Aprovided with spaced longitudinally or transversely directed recesses or grooves 69 functioning as lubricant supply ducts in direct communication with the passageway 5) and the bearing surface of the journal so that any lubricant forced into the chambers will find its way tothe journal. The lower segment is also provided with recesses or grooves 10 and while this segment-is occupying the lower position :of fthe pair, 'some Ylubricant will .find .its way into-these `grooves 'I0 to be retained therein for `insuring a supply, :however small, of lubricant .for thebottom segment journal lubrication.

lBynow consideringtheentire arrangement and construction set forth above it will be-noted that vthe intercommunicating ports, ducts,'passageway and reservoirsk between the journal and .pump are .substantially confined orV function as definite'conduits 4or conveyances of lubricant from the pump tothe journal. Under operating vconditions of the pump, which is self-priming because vit is ysubmerged below the lubricant level, the drive plate and coil :spring ywill cause the piston to move in a. reciprocal manner to charge the conveyances with'iiuid pressure. `When thisfluid pressure has attained a certain value, whatmaybe considered :as back pressure in the conduits andpump upper area will negative the value of the coil spring and such back pressure will hold the piston or plunger in a Vretracted or withdrawn position as illustrated in the drawings. .In this withdrawn 'position the piston is out of operating engagement by the drive plate and thus Vthe pump .is not operated or in other Words is vrendered inoperative. Lubricant is still being supplied-to the journal because ofthe u'id pressure inthe'conduits between the pump and journal but the pump isnot 'rendered `operative again until the lvalue of the iiuid pressure falls Abelow the value ofthe coil spring. vMerely by wayf'of example .and not intended `as a limitation,it is at present 'believed sufficient to attain a iiuid pressure in the nature of iifty poundsto overcome the 'value 'of the coil spring.

.By this .arrangement it will be further noted that lubricant will be constantly supplied to the journal without 'the'necessity of the pump operating vconstantly but merelyrselectively and therefore this arrangement will, obviously, ma-

terially prolong the life of the entire assemblage.

From. the above it will be noted still further that various changes and alterations may =be made to the illustrated and described exempliiication of this invention without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope ofthe appended claims. Y

I claim:

l. In a railway car axle lubricating mechanism of'a journal box, the combination of, a lined shell i sleeved over said axle within said journal box, a chamber in an upper area of said journal box and in communication with an interior surface of said shell, pump means within said journalbox and below said axle, said pumpmeans being in communication with said chamber rand arranged to supply a lubricant to said'chambena reciprocal plunger'in said pump means, spaced Valves in said pumpmeans Vactuated. by reciprocal Aaction of said plunger,-means operated by VVsaid axlefor 'displacing said plunger, and means associated with said plunger for opposing displacement -thereof,'said opposing means and valves being so arranged and constructed that apr-edetermined ,pressure is built up in said chamber to have said `valves lock said plunger'in al displaced posit-ion.

2. In a railway car axle lubricatingcmechanism `of a journal box, lthe combination of,-an interiorly ,grooved lined shell encirling said axle withinfsaid journal box, a chamber in said journal `box and in communication with saidA shell groove, pump means inia lubricant well of said journal box yand inlubricant supplying communication vwith said chamber, a reciprocal plunger in said pump means, `valve means actuated .byfaniaction of .said

.plunger,-and rotatable operating 4means -f-xed tto said axle for selectively retracting `said plunger, and meansassociated with said plunger for yieldably opposing d-isplacement thereof by `said operating means; said opposing and valve means being so arranged and constructed that -apredeter-mined iiuid pressure is built up in saidcha-mberso that said valve means will lock-said plunger in a-retracted position.

3. YIn a railway car axle lubricating mechanism of a journal box, the'combination of, an interiorly grooved shell encircling said axle within said journal box, a chamber in -said journal box in communication with said shell groove, rpump :means vin a lubricant well of `said journal box and in lubricant supplying communication with said chamber, a spring-urged plunger reciprocal in said pump means, valve means .-actuatedeby movement of said plunger, and rotatable means fixed lto said axle for selectively `reciprocating .said plunger; said plunger and valve means being so arranged and `constructed that when a-predetermined uid pressure is built up fin said chamber said plunger -will be lrendered inoperative.

4. ln a railway car axle lubricating mechanism cfa journal box, the combination of, an interiorly grooved shell encircling said axle within said journal box, a Chamberlin said journal box in communication with said shell groove, .pump means in a lubricant well of said journal box and in lubricant supplying communication with said chamber, reciprocal means in -sa-id pump arranged to supply lubricant under'pressure to said chamber, rotatable means fixed to said axle and arranged to selectively opera-te vsaid vreciprocal means and means associated with said reciprocal means for opposing operation Ythereof by said rotatable means; said opposing means and charnber being so arranged and constructed that -a predetermined pressure built up in said chamber will render said reciprocal means inoperative.

v5. "Ina railwaycar axle lubricating mechanism of a journal box, the combinationof, an 'interiori-y grooved cylindrical shell encircling completely said axle Ywithin said journal box, said shellbcing formed by amultiplicity of parts and'locke'd to said journal box against rotationy relative thereto, a chamber in said journal box and in restricted communication with an interior of said shell, pump means in said journal box spacedfrom and `in restricted' lubricant supplying Vcommunication with said chamber, rotatable means iixed to said axle for selectively charging said pump'means :and means associatedWith-said pump means-and opposing said rotatable means for supplying lubricant'under pressure to' said chamber; lsaid Y supplying means and chamber beingso arranged lvand vconstructed that predetermined fluid pressure in'saidchamber will render said pump means inoperative. Y f

6. Ina railway car axle lubricating mechanism of ajournalbox, the combination of, a cylindrical shell encircling completely said axle within said journal box, said shell being V:multipart and locked to said'journal box against rotation rela-V tive thereto, an isolated chamber in Vsaid journal. box and in'restricted communication with an interior of saidshelLpump means 'in said journal box below `said kaxle :and in confined communication with said chamber, and eccentric lrotatable means fixed .to said axle .and arranged to iengage and energize said pump means, -said .pump .means on deenergization Vforcing :lubricant 9 to said chamber for lubricating an interior of said shell.

7. In a railway car axle lubricating mechanism of a journal b'ox, the combination of, a multipart cylindrical thin-walled shell encircling completely said axle Within said journal box, said shell and journal box being locked against rotation of said shell relative to said journal box, an isolated chamber in said journal box in restricted communication with an interior of said shell, pump means in coniined communication with said chamber for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, eccentric means rotatable with said axle for charging said pump means, and means associated with said pump means for discharging uid to said chamber; said discharge means and chamber being so arranged and constructed that predetermined fluid pressure in said chamber will render said pump means ineiective for supplying additional lubricant to said chamber.

8. n a railway car axle lubricating mechanism of a journal box, the combination of, a cylindrical thin Wall shell completely encircling said axle, an isolated compartment in restricted communicaticn with an interior of said shell through said thin Wall, pump means, a reciprocal piston in said pump means, a plurality of valve means in said pump means, means associated with said axle for operating said piston, and a confined duct in said journal box communicating with said pump means intermediate at least one of said valve means and said operating means and leading to said compartment; said valve means being alternately opened during reciprocal movement of said piston to charge said duct and compartment.

9. In a railway car axle lubricating mechanism of a journal box, the combination of, a cylindrical shell completely encircling said axle, an isolated compartment in said journal box and in restricted communication with an interior of said shell, pump means removed from said compartment and operable by said axle, a conned duct in said journal box leading from said pump means to said compartment, a reciprocal piston in said pump means and a plurality of valve means responsive to an action of said piston and disposed Cil on a side of said duct away from said axle; said valve means being alternately closed during reciprocal movement of said piston to charge said duct and compartment.

10. In mechanism for applying lubricant between fixed and movable members, the combination of pump means seated in a lubricant reservoir, conduit means leading from said pump means to engaging surfaces of said members, a chamber in said conduit means, piston means reciprocal in said pump means for supplying lubricant under pressure to said chamber, means connected to and operated by movement of said movable member for displacing said piston means, and means effective at a predetermined pressure of lubricant in said chamber and conduit means for holding said piston means in a displaced position.

11. In mechanism for applying lubricant between engaging surfaces of xed and movable members, the combination of pump means seated in a lubricant reservoir, duct meansl leading from said pump means to said engaging surfaces, piston means reciprocal in said pump means for supplying lubricant under pressure to said duct means, a plurality of valves in said pump means and alternately openable on reciprocation of said piston means, means operated by said movable member for displacing said piston means, and means on said pump means yieldably opposing said displacing means and opposed by pressure in said conduit means for holding said piston means in a displaced position at a predetermined pressure in said conduit means.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 948,192 Tilston Feb. 1. 1910 2,229,095 Kocher Jan. 21, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,157 Great Britain 1906 16,504 Great Britain 1908 603,951 Germany Oct. 12, 1934 

